The Scaffold in The Scarlet Letter

It was, in short, the platform of the pillory; and above it rose the framework of that instrument of discipline, so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus hold it up to the public gaze. (8)" The scaffold in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter plays a more significant role in the novel than many would imagine. The scaffold, or a type of public platform, resurfaces throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the scaffold scences to structure his novel by places them in the beginning, middle, and end of the novel.

In The Scarlet Letter the scaffold is introduced as a place of embarrassment and punishment for Hester Prynne. She must endure harsh criticism from her fellow citizens. "Of an impulsive and passionate nature, she had fortified herself to encounter the stings and venomous stabs of public contumely, wreaking itself in every variety of insult; but there was a quality so much more terrible in the solemn mood of the popular mind, that she longed rather to behold all those rigid countenances contorted with scornful merriment, and herself the object. (10)" The scaffold marks the beginning of Hester's new life with her baby and her sentence of wearing the letter A. From now on, she must tolerate the rejection of the society she lives in. The scaffold also begins the novel in a grim way.

In the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the scaffold is seen as a horrible and scarring place. By the middle of the novel the perception of the scaffold changes. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale reunite for the first time in seven years on the scaffold. They stand side by side holding hands on the platform. "She silently ascended the steps, and stood on the platform, holding little Pearl by the hand. The minister felt for the child's other hand, and took it. (104)" It is also here that Pearl asks Dimmesdale "Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide? (105)" This becomes a recurring question for Pearl in the novel. This view of the scaffold is much more warm than the previous. It shows Dimmesdale's sensitivity to the sin that he commits.

Following the middle scene of the scaffold in The Scarlet Letter is the final scene. This scene with the scaffold is undoubtedly the most important. In this scene Dimmesdale appears before the entire town. Here he asks Pearl and Hester to join him on the scaffold. As he leans on Hester for support he confesses all of his sins to the crowd. When he is finished he reveals his scarlet letter. He then asks Pearl if he can have his kiss. "My little Pearl, dear little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now? Thous wouldst not, yonder, in the forest! But now thou wilt? (210)" Pearl then kisses him and he dies. In this scene the scaffold is portrayed as an enlightening and heartbreaking place. It shows the redemption of Dimmesdale and his tragic death.

The scaffold resurfaces several times and marks important plot changes in the novel. The mood of the scaffold also changes throughout the novel. In the beginning it is horrible and appalling. By the middle of the novel the mood changes, and by the end it is depressing. The scaffold in The Scarlet Letter plays a significant role in the course of the novel.